Subminiature tube receptacle



Feb. 19, 1957 J. sUNKo ETAL SUBMINIATURE TUBE RECEPTACLE Filed Jan. 11, 1954 l NVENTORS. J5 )Ln 5u 72/60,

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' 'miniature valves. ture socket of Vthe latter type that may be formed conveniently and vat low cost, which makes good electrical sonrfimarnnn 'rune nnenrraern -VJohn Snnlro, Elgin, and Wiliiani CwBiedermann, y Des iP-laines, lili., assignors to Motorola,nc., Chicago, lll.,

scorporation of llilinois Appiicationanuary 11, 1954, Serial No. 403,102

3 Claims. (Cl. 339-192) Theipresent invention relates Vto receptacles or sockets for electron valves, and more particularly to an improved .receptacle for a subminiature electron valve which has `particular utility when used in connection with a plated circuit panel,

Electron valvespresently Idesignated as the Subminiature type-'are generally constructed to have connection pins in the form of small diameter, rigid wires extending larger and more rugged connection pins, are not suitable for' the accommodation of -the connection pins of sub- "miniature valves. This is'due to the diiiiculty and expense involved in attempting to construct this type of socket with a sufficiently reduced size so that it is suitable for receiving a subminiature valve. Because of this, sockets .have been designed which are especially adapted for sub- However, there is a need for a miniaand mechanical contact with the connection pins of a subminiature valve, and which may be expeditiously mounted on a `supporting panel.

It is accordingly a general object of the present invention 'to provide an improved socket or receptacle for a subminiature valve that supplies the need referred to above.

A more specic object of the invention is to provide AAsuch an improved receptacle for a subminiature valve that may be supported on a base or chassis and connected 'into an electrical circuit with the utmost ease and simplicity, and which is constructed to retain the connection pinsot` a subminiature valve inserted therein securely and rigidly so as to establish good electricaland mechanical connection thereto and yet allow for the removal of the valve without undue force.

A feature of the invention is the provision of an improved receptacle for a subminiature valve which includes an insulating Ibody having a series of apertures therein for receiving the connection pins of the valve, each of the apertures having a metallic strip looped therein 'with the looped portion of the strip being rmly retained in the `-socket and making electrical connection with the corresponding pin on both sides thereof, and which strip has fa'portion extending from the base of the loop to constitute believed to be new are set forth with particularity in the ZS Patented Feb. 19, 195'? ice appended claim-s. The invention-itself, however, together -with further objects^andadvantages^thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description when taken yin conjunction with the accompanying drawingin which:

Figure 1 yis-a plan view ofthe improved socket ofthe present invention Vshown mounted on a plated circuit paneLand-shown greatlyenlargedfor purposes of clarity.

Figure 2 is an enlarged 'cross-sectional view of the .socket taken along -thelines2-2 of Figure l, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective-exploded view of a subminiature valve, the improved socket'of the invention, and a fragment of ar'plated `circuitpanel.

The improved socket -or receptacle of the present invention is formed of a block or body or" insulating material having a seriesfofapertures -in the top surtace thereof each of which Aextends into the interior of the body and -has anenlargedrsection vdi-sposeda selected dist-ance from that surface. A floop formed from a lresilient metallic strip is disposed in each of the apertures, and each loop has an enlarged closed end portion which extends into the enlarged section of its corresponding aperture so that Vthe loop may be self-retaining in the aperture. rl`he loop alsoihas a constricted intermediate Yportion within the aperture for resiliently` retaining a connection pin of ya subminiature valve ,between the opposing sides `of the metallic strip. Toward -the pin-entry end of `the-aperture, the loop has a pair of bent-over base sections extending in opposite directions across the top surface 4of the block rand engaging lthat surface so-as tofpreventinward motion of the 'loop within .the aperture. One base section ofthe loop has an-exteudedportion which is bent down over the 'side lof the body to form `an electrical connection to the looped portion and alsoV to `form amounting means for the socket.

'Referring now to the drawing, the improved socket of the present invention is illustrated therein -and includes a body portion 1t) Whichis formed of a block ofinsulating materialsuch as molded phenolic, polystyrene or other suitable substance. The body '10 is preferably of molded 'construction and, in the illustrated embodiment, has an upper portion 12 of rectangular section-and a lower integral rectangular ange portion 13, Vthe flange portion having greater transverse dimensions than theupper portion.

The top surface of upper portion 12 has a series of lapertures 14 formed therein which extend downwardly into the interior of the body 10. These apertures have a rectangular section and are disposed in spaced parallel relation along portion 12 with their long dimension extending transversely thereof. TheV lower portion 13 of body 10 has a slot or channel 15 formed therein which extends from one end of the lower portion to theethcr in communication with apertures 14. In this manner, and as more clearly shown in Figure 2, channel 15 forms an enlarged section for each of the apertures 14 spaced a selected ldistance from the top surface of upper portion 12.

Each of the apertures 14 has a strip 16 `of resilient electrically conductive'metallic material associated therewith. Each of the strips 16 hasa looped portion disposed in a corresponding one of apertures 14 and bent around an axis ot symmetry. The looped portion has a rounded closed end 17 of enlarged section extending into slot 15 and serving to-hold the looped portion of strip 16 in the aperture by engaging the shoulder formed between the aperture and the slot. The looped portion also has an intermediate resilient constricted section l18 which serves rmly but resiliently to engage a corresponding one of the connection pins 19 of subminiature electron valve 20 and to make electrical contact with the corresponding pin on two sides thereof.

The upper open end of the looped portion of each of the strips 16 is flared outwardly across the top surface of upper portion 12, and this provides a pair of bent-over base sections or flared portions 21 and 22 extending away from the axis of symmetry of the looped portion in opposite directions across the top surface so as to prevent downward motion of the looped portion within the aperture. The lower flange portion of body 10 has a series of apertures 23 extending therethrough, and one of the base sections, for example, section 22 has an extended portion 24 which is bent over the side of upper portion 12 and 15 through a corresponding aperture 23 in lower portion 13.

The improved receptacle of the present invention is shown mounted on a plated circuit panel 25. This panel may be constructed, for example, in accordance with the process disclosed and claimed in copending application Serial No. 297,285, tiled Iuly 5, 1952 now Patent No. 2,699,425, in the name of Temple Nieter, and assigned to the present assignee. Such has an electrical circuit 26 plated thereon and includes terminal points in the form of plated holes 27 which are aligned with holes 23 in 20 the flange portion 13 of the various receptacles. The ends of the extended portions 24 of metallic strip 16 extend down through the plated holes referred to above 1n me plated circuit panel, and are secured at soldered joint 28 so as to provide respective electrical connections to the 39 various looped portions thereof and so as to hold the receptacle firmly on the panel. A shield 29 may be conveniently formed as a part of the plated circuit, and isV disposed on the panel below the receptacle to minimize grid-to-plate capacity between the soldered ends of ex- D tended portions 24.

The subminiature tube connection pins are firmly but resiliently held in the receptacle by means of the constricted sections 18 of the looped portions of the various strips 16. Superior electrical contact is made to the con- 0 nection pins since they are engaged on two sides by the strip 16 on both sides of Vthe constricted section of the. looped portion. Soldering of the ends of extended portions 24 is facilitated since these ends are spaced an appreciable distance apart in spite of the extremely small Lto sizeof the socket. Moreover, due to the improved construction of the socket, the likelihood of solder or flux flowin y up the extended portions 24 into the pin-receiving portion of the receptacle due to capillary action is reduced to a minimum. 0U

ln a constructed embodiment of the invention the insulating body of the receptacle had the following di-f mensions, and these are given merely as an example of the size of the body and are not intended to be a limitation on the invention. 55

Portion 12-3/16 x fs x M3 Portion l3-76 x 1A x 1A Slot l51/2" x 1/8" x 1/16 (it) The invention provides, therefore, an improved receptacle for a subminiature valve that uses relatively few component parts and may be of a simple molded construction. The socket may be easily secured to a plate circuit panel by the soldering of the extended portions 6L of the various metallic strips to the terminal points of the electrical circuit and there is no need for any other mounting means to be provided. Moreoven'the socket is constructed to facilitate soldering and to prevent excess solder from entering the pin-receiving portion thereof due to capillary action or the like. i Y While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, modifications may be made and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such Y modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the inventon.

We claim:

l. A receptacle for receiving connection pins of a subminiature electron valve and the like including in combination, a body of insulating material having an upper portion `with a series of apertures therein extending inwardly from the top surface thereof and having a lower integral ange portion with transverse dimensions exceeding those of said upper portion, said ange portion having a series of apertures extending therethrough and having a channel extending across the bottom surface thereof in communication with said apertures in said upper portion; a resilient electrically conductive strip member associated with each of said apertures in said upper portion and having a looped portion extending into a corresponding one of said apertures in said upper portion and resiliently engaging the sides thereof; said looped portion having a closed enlarged end section extending into said channel in said lower portion to retain said looped portion in said corresponding aperture, having a constricted intermediate resilient pin-retaining section formed by opposing sides of said loop, having a pair of bent-over base sections extending in opposite directions across said top surface of said upper portion to prevent downward motion of said looped portion in the aperture, and one of said base sections having an extended portion extending around said upper portion of said body and through a corresponding one of said apertures in said flange portion thereof for making electrical connection to said looped portion and for securing the receptacle to a mounting surface.

2. A receptacle for receiving connection pins of a subminiature electron valve and the like including in combination, a body of insulating material having an upper portion with a series of apertures'therein extending inwardly from the top surface thereof and having a lower integral flange portion with transverse dimensions exceeding those of said upper portion, said flange portion having a series 'of apertures extending therethrough and having a l channel extending across the bottom surface thereof in communication with said apertures in said upper portion and Vwith a transverse dimension exceeding the transverse dimension of each of such apertures; a resilient metallic strip member associated with each of said apertures in said upper portion and having a looped portion bent around an axis of symmetry and disposed in a corresponding one of said apertures in said upper portion, said looped portion having a closed rounded end extending into the aforesaid channel to retain said looped portion in said corresponding aperture and having an opposite open end with portions ared away from said axis of symmetry across said top surface to prevent downward motion of said looped portion in said corresponding aperture, said looped portion further having a constricted pin-engaging section intermediate said ends, and one of said ared portions having an extended portion extending around said upper portion of said body and through a corresponding one of Vsaid apertures in said flange portion thereof for making electrical connection to said looped portion and for securing the receptacle to a mounting surface.

3. A socket for a subminiature electron valve or the like, including in combination: a body of insulating material having a top with a series of apertures extending inwardly therefrom and further having a base opposite said top and adapted to be disposed upon a mounting surface, said base being apertured to provide an enlarged section for each of said apertures; a resilient electrically conductive strip member associated with each of said apertures in said top, each of said strip members having a looped portion disposed in one of said apertures including a closed, enlarged end section extending into said enlarged section' in said base to retain said looped portion against withdrawal, said looped portion also having a constricted intermediate resilient pin retaining section formed by opposing sides of said loop and further hav- I References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Chouljian Aug. 5,

Del Camp Oct. 7,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 7,

Great Britain Apr. 6, 

